Good Works, as referred to in the Scriptures,
originate from GOD.
JESUS CHRIST was the best example of good works
During His life on earth.
Good works destroy the works of the devil,
Holding back the kingdom of darkness
And allow the light of GOD’S Kingdom to shine forth.
how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power,
who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil,
for God was with Him.
Acts 10:38
Jesus answered,
"Neither this man nor his parents sinned,
but that the works of God should be revealed in him.
I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day;
the night is coming when no one can work.
John 9:3-4
But Jesus answered them,
"My Father has been working until now, and I have been working."
Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath,
but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.
Then Jesus answered and said to them,
"Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself,
but what He sees the Father do;
for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.
For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does;
and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel.
John 5:17-20
If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me;
but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works,
that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him."
Therefore they sought again to seize Him, but He escaped out of their hand.
And He went away again beyond the Jordan
to the place where John was baptizing at first, and there He stayed.
Then many came to Him and said,
"John performed no sign,
but all the things that John spoke about this Man were true."
And many believed in Him there.
John 10:37-42
Then they said to Him,
"What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?"
Jesus answered and said to them,
"This is the work of God,
that you believe in Him whom He sent."
John 6:28-29
The first step to good works is
Believing in the LORD JESUS
Who is the Word of GOD.
"Most assuredly, I say to you,
he who believes in Me,
the works that I do he will do also;
and greater works than these he will do,
because I go to My Father.
John 14:12
We are not saved by good works.
We are saved by the grace of GOD
Through faith in the LORD JESUS
For good works
Specifically prepared for each of us.
Our Creator has specifically designed each one of us
For the good works He has planned for us.
For by grace you have been saved through faith,
and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
not of works, lest anyone should boast.
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for Good Works,
which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:8-10
GOD enables us by His grace to abound in these good works.
Moreover, brethren,
we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia:
that in a great trial of affliction
the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality.
For I bear witness that according to their ability,
yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing,
imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift
and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
And not only as we had hoped,
but they first gave themselves to the Lord,
and then to us by the will of God.
So we urged Titus, that as he had begun,
so he would also complete this grace in you as well.
But as you abound in everything-
-in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence,
and in your love for us--see that you abound in this grace also.
I speak not by commandment,
but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others.
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that though He was rich,
yet for your sakes He became poor,
that you through His poverty might become rich.
2 Corinthians 8:1-9
And let us not grow weary while doing good,
for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all,
especially to those who are of the household of faith.
Galatians 6:9-10
But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly,
and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
So let each one give as he purposes in his heart,
not grudgingly or of necessity;
for God loves a cheerful giver.
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you,
that you, always having all sufficiency in all things,
may have an abundance for every good work.
As it is written: "He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor;
His righteousness endures forever."
Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food,
supply and multiply the seed you have sown
and increase the fruits of your righteousness,
while you are enriched in everything for all liberality,
which causes thanksgiving through us to God.
For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints,
but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God,
while, through the proof of this ministry,
they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ,
and for your liberal sharing with them and all men,
and by their prayer for you,
who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you.
Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
2 Corinthians 9:6-15
Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.
And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us,
an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
Ephesians 5:1-2
GOD set the example in giving the biggest and best gift ever
In His only Begotten Son.
that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him,
being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
Colossians 1:10
If the word of GOD is the seed,
Good works are the fruit.
Give her of the fruit of her hands,
And let her own works praise her in the gates.
Proverbs 31:31
The fruit of the Spirit is the various aspects of GOD’S love
Revealed through a believer.
I am the vine, you are the branches.
He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit;
for without Me you can do nothing.
John 15:5
Good works are the fruits of righteousness.
for it is God Who Works in you
both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
Philippians 2:13
Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.
And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried,
whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful,
to ask alms from those who entered the temple;
who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms.
And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, "Look at us."
So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.
Then Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you:
In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk."
And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up,
and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them-
-walking, leaping, and praising God.
And all the people saw him walking and praising God.
Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple;
and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. ..
...However, many of those who heard the word believed;
and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.
Acts 3:1-10, 4:4
The lame man expected a charitable deed from Peter and John.
They did a good work instead of a charitable deed.
The result of good works brings glory to GOD
And extends His Kingdom.
Peter’s right hand gave into the right hand of the lame man
Not just a coin that would meet a material need.
It released GOD’S compassionate love and power
Meeting his physical need and spiritual need!
Let your light so shine before men,
that they may see your good works
and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:16
Good works are the light of GOD that shines through His people.
We should let that light shine and not hide such good works.
"Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them.
Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.
Therefore, when you do a charitable deed,
do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets,
that they may have glory from men.
Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
that your charitable deed may be in secret;
and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.
Matthew 6:1-4
Charitable deeds originate from man.
They benefit others, like the good works,
But bring glory to man.
Praise from men is the reward for charitable deeds
If they are done to be seen by men.
For a charitable deed done in secret,
There is an open reward from the Heavenly Father!
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor,
and though I give my body to be burned,
but have not love, it profits me nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:3
Giving and charitable deeds,
That are not an outflow of GOD’S love,
Carry no spiritual profit.
a devout man and one who feared God with all his household,
who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always. ..
...and said, 'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard,
and your alms are remembered in the sight of God.
Acts 10:2, 31
Non believers can be involved in charitable deeds
But not good works.
At Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas.
This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did.
Acts 9:36
saying: "The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat.
Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do,
but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do.
For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders;
but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
But all their works they do to be seen by men.
They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments.
Matthew 23:2-5
All the works done by the religious leaders of JESUS’ time
Were to be seen by men.
who gave Himself for us,
that He might redeem us from every lawless deed
and purify for Himself His own special people,
zealous for good works.
Titus 2:14
Let them do good, that they be rich in good works,
ready to give, willing to share,
storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come,
that they may lay hold on eternal life.
1 Timothy 6:18-19
and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars,
perceived the grace that had been given to me,
they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship,
that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.
They desired only that we should remember the poor,
the very thing which I also was eager to do.
Galatians 2:9-10
And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,
Hebrews 10:24
And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God,
and books were opened.
And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life.
And the dead were judged according to their works,
by the things which were written in the books.
Revelation 20:12
Therefore GOD expects every believer to abound in good works.
Such a life is an outflow of GOD’S love from the heart,
GOD’S will in the mind,
Led by the spirit of GOD
And strengthened by His grace.
This life reflects GOD’S light in this world.
The attitudes of such a believer will be the fruit of the Spirit-
-the Spirit of love.
The motive would be to please and glorify GOD,
And to relieve the pain and meet the need of others.
Not to justify oneself
Nor seek the praise from men.
Such good works bring spiritual increase in the Body of CHRIST,
Through the working of the spiritual gifts,
Such as words of knowledge, prophecies, healings and miracles.
It will also include charitable deeds of giving to the poor
And giving practical help to the needy.
The good works are the fruit from the seed of the word of GOD.
These good works bring forth and increase the fruits of righteousness
In the lives of those who are beneficiaries.
Hearts welling up with gratitude to GOD
And loving prayers for the givers are the fruits of righteousness
That increase and multiply
And establish and extend the Kingdom of GOD.
While charitable deeds are a contribution out of the abundance
Of one’s possessions,
Good works are a sacrificial lifestyle of commitment to GOD
Resulting in a life lived for others.
Unlike charitable deeds, good works cannot be done
Without abiding in JESUS and the anointing from GOD.
Charitable deeds are to be done in secret
While good deeds are to be done in the open.
Charitable deeds bring praise to men
And good works bring glory to the Father.
Both charitable deeds and good works benefit others -
- materially and may help physically.
Good works more importantly help others spiritually
Bringing people to experience the goodness of GOD in their lives,
Filling hearts with gratitude to GOD
And enhancing the flow of GOD’S love among His people.
Charitable deeds that are done in the open,
Will complete the reward in finding fulfilment
In the praise from men.
Good works will reap the reward of eternal life from GOD
On the day of judgement.
Let us therefore as the people of GOD abound in open good works
And follow through with secret charitable deeds as led by the LORD!
